Bob Mueller finally caught up with Bob Bolus. Last Friday, the special prosecutor investigating Russian meddling in American politics indicted 16 Russian nationals and groups on charges of conspiring to defraud the United States.
(read more)

An attorney for residents who contend Scranton collects millions of dollars more in tax revenues annually than allowed under a state cap cited the city’s budgets and audits in arguing Tuesday in Lackawanna County Court for a decision in their favor.
(read more)

SCRANTON — A federal jury began hearing testimony Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by a former Lackawanna County deputy sheriff who alleges fellow employees violated his constitutional rights after they traveled to his Wyoming County home to check on his welfare.
(read more)

BY BORYS KRAWCZENIUK (STAFF WRITER)
/
Published: January 24, 2013

Article Tools

A politically active local insurance company owner is organizing a petition drive with the goal of letting voters decide whether to revamp county government and end more than a century of three-commissioner rule.

Chuck Volpe said the commissioners' plan to abolish four elected row offices is generally a good step but does not go far enough.

Mr. Volpe wants to see the commissioners replaced by an elected, full-time county executive who answers to a part-time county council, though an elected commission would study that idea, issue recommendations and let voters decide on the form of a new government.

"I've been thinking about it for some time and actually talking to elected officials and community leaders for some time about some other concepts of government," he said. "And I think because they (the commissioners) have made an issue (out of the row officers) and put it on the public agenda now, now's the time to have that debate."

County commissioners Corey O'Brien, Jim Wansacz and Patrick O'Malley had the county's general counsel for litigation answer questions. Attorney Larry Moran said Mr. Volpe only wants change because he faces losing a county lawsuit that would force his insurance company to pay repairs when the roof on the amphitheater collapsed from heavy snow in February 2007.

"Over $1.6 million are at stake," Mr. Moran said. "Mr. Volpe has 1.6 million reasons to want to change county government."

Mr. Volpe's insurance companies claim the county cancelled its insurance on the roof and they do not owe money for repairs. The county says the companies have no evidence the coverage was canceled.

Mr. Volpe denied the lawsuit had anything to do with his decision, saying his insurance companies are "a pretty good size" and routinely involved in suits over coverage.

He called the idea that his push and the suit are connected "completely and totally ridiculous."

"That's preposterous and ridiculous and let me go a step further," Mr. Volpe said. "The moving force behind the first lawsuit was in fact (commissioner) Mike Washo, who's no longer even there. Jim Wansacz was not there when that lawsuit was first filed, which is now five years ago. And last but not least, I was one of the three, I believe, largest contributors to Jimmy Wansacz's campaign. ... I notice they have no comment on the merit of it (his push for change). They choose to have their lawyer call you and you can draw whatever conclusions you see fit."

Mr. Volpe, using mostly his own considerable wealth to fund his campaign, finished second among six candidates in the Democratic primary for former state Sen. Robert J. Mellow's seat in 2010. John Blake won the nomination and went on to win the seat. Mr. Wansacz finished fourth. Mr. Volpe contributed heavily to Mr. Wansacz's campaign for commissioner in 2011.

The first step toward changing county government is to ask voters if they favor having a commission study the current form and to elect at least seven commission members at the same time.

Mr. Volpe must obtain a number of signatures equal to at least 5 percent of the county voters who voted in the last governor's race. In 2010, 69,800 county voters cast ballots for governor, according to the county Board of Elections. That means Mr. Volpe will need at least 3,490 voters to sign his petition.

At the same time, voters will choose study commission members. According to state law, a candidate for the commission, to get on the ballot, will need 200 signatures or a number of equaling at least 2 percent of the ballots cast in the governor's race, whichever is less. In this case, 200 signatures would be required because 2 percent of 69,800 is 1,396.

The study commission would not have to recommend the county executive-county council form of government and could style some other new form. It also could recommend no change.

Mr. Volpe said he has discussed adopting a county executive form of government with local leaders since his failed 2010 Senate bid, but decided the timing is right after the commissioners decided to eliminate the row offices.

The commissioners on Wednesday voted to introduce their proposal to place on the May 21 primary election ballot a question to eliminate the offices of recorder of deeds, register of wills and clerk of judicial records and make the county sheriff an appointed post. All four are elected every four years and are scheduled to be on the ballot this fall.

Mr. Volpe said his ballot question on changing government would be on the Nov. 5 municipal election ballot because he could not gather enough signatures in time to get on the primary ballot.

He said the commissioners' elimination only of row offices falls short.

"It's somewhat magnanimous of them to have other, lesser officials fall on the sword to save the taxpayers money and completely exempt themselves," Mr. Volpe said with what he admitted was "slight" sarcasm.

He considers the commissioner form of government outdated.

"The commissioners are the only ones to have both executive and legislative functions, effectively, in one office, unlike the governor or the president," Mr. Volpe said.

He predicted a switch to a county executive-county council form would potentially save millions of dollars, though he did not offer proof of that. In 2011, Luzerne County voters adopted a version of the county-executive-county council form of government that took office last year. In that case, the council appoints the executive rather than letting voters elect one.

Other counties, including Allegheny and Lehigh, elect county executives.

"We've all experienced in this county, God knows, over the last number of years, we've witnessed corruption. We've seen inefficiency. We've seen disagreements even among commissioners. We've seen cronyism. There have been issues on appointments that people weren't qualified," Mr. Volpe said. "All of that nonsense should end. And it would end by having one accountable elected official to be the county executive and have that person be accountable and be accountable to the electorate that elects him."

Mr. Volpe said he will form a political action committee to raise money to promote a study and later to implement its recommendations to change county government. He plans to call it Citizens for Smaller Government.

"We're just going to bring Lackawanna County into the 21st century a little sooner than normally happens," Mr. Volpe said. "Or at least let the voters decide. It's their call. I can't do anything. My job is to put it on the ballot, present facts and figures like you would in any candidacy and let the voters decide. I think it was the commissioner - was it Corey? - who said, 'We'll let the voters decide.' I couldn't agree with him more."

In announcing the plan to eliminate the elected row offices, Mr. O'Brien said, "Our plan is to put it forward and let the voters decide."

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.